Stealing kisses from a boy: CATCH AND KEEP.

Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Easily one of my favorite reads of the year.

Third in a series, but works as a standalone; I loved reading Maren's story. After saying no to a wedding proposal, Maren flees to Wisconsin, where she spent her summers growing up, and the tiny bait shop/cabin she inherited. Once there, she finds Joe--previously thought of as just a friend of her older brothers.

Joe is now a sexy single dad, running his parents' inn and raising his two kids. The two feel drawn to each other immediately, but Hahn does a wonderful job of illustrating their chemistry and attraction, not just some sort of insta-love. The two have a history, yes, but also hangups. Maren is getting over her breakup and Joe is a divorced, busy father.

Maren is a great character; it's wonderful for her to have her own book. She's just... Maren. Tougher than she thinks, figuring out life, totally knowledgeable about fishing and willing to do the dirty work of fixing up an old bait shack.

Joe, meanwhile, is a dreamboat, and his kids are adorable. I don't blame Maren for falling for all of them. I did too. Hahn deftly explores the topic of autism through Joe's younger daughter, but never strays into trope or treacly territory.

If you've read the first two books in this series, you'll be excited to see appearances from Maren's BFFs Lorelai and Shelby and their beaus. But this story is truly Maren's, digging into her old days as "Musky Maren," a fishing YouTube Star (a Musky is a fish, don't worry). It makes some wonderful points about how women are treated simply because they dared to put a piece of themselves on the Internet--and how men feel they are owed something in return for that appearance. Her older brother has a big role, making Maren feel bad about herself and generally just being a jerk.

Still, this is a sentimental and lovely book. When it ended, I thought, "that was perfect." It's a wonderful blend of romantic, sexy, and sweet. The lake acts as another character, providing a wonderful summer/camp-like atmosphere, even as winter sets in.

I love a story that is easy to read--that makes you laugh and smile. CATCH AND KEEP is that book. It's just fun to read (even though it has its serious moments) and makes you happy while reading it. The characters are great and easy to root for, and it offers a wonderful wrap-up for Maren, Shelby, and Lorelai. And Maren and Joe are pretty awesome too, illustrating that not everyone takes the same journey to find one another. 4.5+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin in return for an unbiased review.

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There's a road that I remember leading to a special place: I'LL BE GONE FOR CHRISTMAS.

I'll Be Gone for Christmas by Georgia K. Boone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, this was cute!

I'LL BE GONE FOR CHRISTMAS is basically the movie The Holiday, but diverse and gay.

Bee and Clover switch houses via an app. Bee heads to Clover's farmhouse, where she meets Clover's ex, Knox, and gets to know Bee's dad, Jimmy. While there, she works on the issues she has of being in business with her sister and feeling inadequate in her family.

Clover, meanwhile, heads to Bee's city apartment. There, our country mouse meets Bee's twin sister, Beth, with a stop along the way for a high school crush. Clover works through a belated coming out, of sorts, and getting past people's expectations of her.

This is simply a pleasant read. The characters are easy to like and relate to. They're well-drawn, with realistic issues and things to work through. Even though the story digs into serious topics like grief and coming out, it has plenty of light and humorous moments to balance everything out. There's a holiday flavor, but Christmas is not the main focus of the story. Boone captures lesbian friendships and relationships extremely well. Also, Clover's dad Jimmy is adorable and steals many a scene.

GONE has a fun concept. I've discovered that I like holiday reads that feel Christmas-y without going overboard. It's emotional but fun and while a little simplistic at times, this diverse romance is a winner overall. 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Avon in return for an unbiased review.

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And I will tell you again about the first time I saw you: NO ONE WILL KNOW.

No One Will Know by Rose Carlyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of those wild fantastical thrillers that you just want to keep reading, even though it's completely preposterous!

Eve finds out she's pregnant after she's lost her wealthy boyfriend in an accident. His family wants nothing to do with her, so she's adrift. She finds herself recruited by a wealthy couple, the Hygates, to be their nanny in a remote island location. She soon realizes, however, that they don't have a child: they want hers. They offer Eve the opportunity to raise her own child in utter luxury in return for adopting it.

Now, is Eve naive for not seeing a million red flags about this situation? Yes. The story is silly and crazy, but shines in its focus on Eve's determination and a mother's love for her child. The characters are dark, the remote setting is fun, and it's just an all-around good page turner/escape, if you can set aside your need for a believable story. 4 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and William Morrow in return for an unbiased review.

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Let there be love that lasts through the year: THE MERRIEST MISTERS.

The Merriest Misters by Timothy Janovsky
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Ironically, I'm writing this review while watching The Santa Clause, which probably tells you all you need to know.

THE MERRIEST MISTERS is the fanciful story of Quinn and Patrick, who are struggling after their recent marriage. Quinn is the stressed out teacher pretending to be something he's not, while Patrick, a recently fired architect (something he's keeping from his husband) just wants to make everyone happy (major daddy issues) and to "support" Quinn as the breadwinner.

However, those problems get set aside when they clock Santa with a frying pan on Christmas Eve and one of them must put on his golden cloak and take over Santa duties at the North Pole.

This story is cute and a bit cheesy--it certainly would work well as a Hallmark or Netflix movie. It has heavy queer Santa Clause vibes. On the positive side, it has such a wonderful, diverse cast--yay for holiday inclusivity! It explores being yourself and non-traditional gender roles, as well as the importance of being there for queer youth. It's not quite as Christmas-y as more a look into relationships, with plenty of focus on the issues in Quinn and Patrick's marriage. It's fantastical but an enjoyable holiday romance. 3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin in return for an unbiased review.

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And the hills move like lungs, the river speaks in tongues: WHAT THE WOODS TOOK.

What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I will start out by saying that I adore Courtney Gould and will read anything she writes. Her writing is beautiful, original, and a gift for the queer community. Even WOODS, which is not my favorite of hers, is well-done.

Devin has spent just a short time in her latest foster home when she's awakened in the night and taken away. She soon learns that her foster parents have sent her to the Revive Wilderness program, a program for troubled youth where a small group of teens spends 50 days in the woods with two counselors. You know, the teens are there against their will, but whatever, right?

Devin clashes immediately with Sheridan, another strong-willed female in the group, but has better luck with Ollie, a lost and troubled soul; the younger Aiden; and religious Hannah. It doesn't take Devin long to realize that things seem off (beyond the forced kidnapping) and soon counselors disappear, the woods seem extra eerie, and more.

This isn't true horror, I don't think, but it sure is creepy and certainly sinister. Gould does a wonderful job of building up the tension. Unfortunately, it takes a while to get to a lot of the scary parts, and they sometimes fizzle out. A huge part of the novel's beginning is spent on the discord between Devin and Sheridan, to the point of repetition and frustration. There's far more focus on interpersonal relationships and the camper's backgrounds than the horror vibes. What does show up is unique and intriguing and often quite spooky.

I especially loved the focus on these wilderness camps, which really do exist, and how they can affect the psyche of already fragile young teens. Also important is Gould's emphasis on queer relationships and her consistently strong portrayal of teens overall. This is a bit of a slow burn, plot-wise, but there's a lot to love here too. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in return for an unbiased review. Look for WOODS on 12/10/2024!!

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But you came along and finally I see the type of love I know I need: THE SLOWEST BURN.

The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Enjoyable romance with a foodie angle!

THE SLOWEST BURN is a cute romance, though there's nothing hugely original about it. The entire time it nagged me that it reminded me so much of another book I'd read -- believe it was Ashley Poston's Seven Year Slip.

Here we have the usual set-up for a love story: two people with baggage have to get over it if they want to wind up together. Kieran won a reality cooking show and now he's trying to capitalize on that fame by publishing a cookbook. Ellie is the ghostwriter for said cookbook. Kieran is dyslexic with ADHD, but--of course--Ellie is orderly and uptight. The two clash... until they don't.

The serious aspect of the story revolves around a study of grief. Ellie is a young widow who still lives in a cottage behind her late husband's parents, and they depend heavily on her. Kieran has his own family problems, with a family who always had very high expectations for their son.

Kieran and Ellie are frustrating in the beginning, when they lack the ability to communicate. Once they get to know each other, it's an enjoyable book. The two feel they can't have a relationship due to perceptions in the publishing world. And Ellie is hung up on the fact that she can't have anything for herself (the usual) while Kieran is sure he'll destroy anything good he touches. I do feel badly for Ellie, as she has a lot going on, and Kieran seems like a pretty decent guy. Their chemistry is good, and there's a lot of cooking/baking references, if that's something you enjoy.

There are not a ton of major happenings or deep revelations, despite the serious topics covered, but this is still a sweet romance. 3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin in return for an unbiased review.

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Where the love light gleams: SOME LIKE IT COLD.

Some Like It Cold by Elle McNicoll
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

This one had a fun premise, but lost a few things in execution!

Jasper is the black sheep of her family, thanks to her autism, which her mom has basically had her hide since childhood. Her family aims for perfection and focuses on her older sister, Christine, who is getting married on New Year's Eve. Jasper reluctantly returns home to Lake Pristine for the wedding festivities, with the secret knowledge that she's dropping out of college with dreams of going into interior design.

SOME LIKE IT COLD has a lot of good points to make about neurodivergence and autism, but good grief, it gets repetitive, as if it's beating us over the head with Jasper's diagnosis! It doles out symptoms like we're reading from WebMD, rather than learning about an actual human. Her sister Christine is horrible with no true redeemable qualities, making it difficult to root for the sisters to reconcile.

Jasper's love interest is Arthur, who has remained in Lake Pristine to run his late father's movie house. The two were childhood enemies, but with Jasper's return this childhood hatred turns into a spark. This is quite confusing, as it seems like they truly hated each other, and the story never makes clear how that hate actually manifests as unrequited love.

The story has some cute points, including its picaresque small town holiday setting and Jasper's friendship with Arthur's little sister, but it's bogged down by repetition and a lack of forward momentum. There's also far more telling than showing with the prose, making the book feel very long. Note that this is characterized as YA, but both Jasper and Arthur come across as older.

Overall, this has some fun Christmas aspects, but I couldn't quite get past all the flaws. 2.5 stars.

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